03/18/2011

Happy Birthday David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins!

Image courtesy of Donald Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution.

The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins celebrated its first birthday yesterday! Even our bronze sculptures joined in the celebration, like the picture of the Neanderthal mother and child at right. In honor of the exhibit’s first birthday, we ran a human-evolution-themed haiku and limerick contest on our Human Origins facebook and twitter accounts. Below are all the contest entries, including our four winners (listed at the top) who will each get a copy of the exhibit companion book “What Does It Mean To Be Human?" signed by exhibit curator, Dr. Rick Potts!

Second place:There once was a man from Neander Who often liked to meander He had flatter feet, and couldn't compete, with Homo sapiens' delusions of grandeur.

Third Place:Dark skull-eyes haunt me did you hear the eagle strike Taung Child so long dead?

Fourth Place:There once was a man named Svante whose sequencing was muy elegante. When he examined the code For the saucy story it told-- a Neanderthal is more than my Aunty.

Honorable Mentions:

Evolution Spring Her breath takes flight Deep unearthed sigh

There once was a boy from Turkana who wasn’t as swift as the fauna. But because he could sweat, he kept the antelopes upset and became a marathon runner.

A toothy young biped from Old’vai Is now Paranthropus boisei. Tho’ his body seems small, His mandible’s tall The crested, broad-faced OH 5.

Matthew Berger a young man spawned from an amoeba Thought he would be like his dad and not Justin Bieber He found some old bones While clearing some stones. Holy Cow! Australopithecus sediba!

There once was a planet called Earth... and intelligence, O what a dearth. But wildly variable seasons provided plenty of reasons for a habile hominid's birth.

Humanity is hominids walking around in designer suits

He’s muscular, thick-browed, and hairy His demeanor is savage and scary A Neanderthal, or Is it just Jersey Shore? Sure, we’re different, but really, not very.

The Neanderthal’s cranial ridge Was a Cainial sign of orig Inal sin, and the Ark Kept him off for this mark. (If you think that, I’ll sell you a bridge.)

A Neanderthal asked me to tea To discuss our tall family tree. He asked, "This srectus -- Does anything connect us?" "You're both Homos," I said, "just like me!"

A young Mitochondrial Eve Was the mother to all, we believe; Her mtDNA Is still with us today A remarkable feat to achieve!

There once was a critter named “Hobbit”. But Eckhardt told Tocheri to stop it. It’s pathological you see, your colored bones won’t fool me. But for most, a new species they posit.

Bipedalism consider the opening: foramen magnum.

As we look at our similar shape A conclusion that few can escape (Save a few who still try To believe in a lie): It is clear, now, that man is an ape

A tiny young lady named Lucy Wanted to eat something juicy ---- ---- Her descendants include Gary Busey

lumbar lordosis gut reduces, brain expands take a walk with me

Fire with us tonight: Tasty food and we sleep warm - How do we keep it?

Other Entries:

Drowsy toolmaker Glimmering lights above are Yet to be noticed

Who was first meat eater? Early Humans/Carnivores? Yay! Big Brains for all.

Questions Need Answers. What Makes You and I Human? Just Go Ask Lucy!

It's Not About Size. Chants Homo floresiensisKimono Dragon!

There once was a hominin name Lucy, who walked across savanna bipedally. In East Africa she did roam, maybe a cousin or so to Homo. From 3 million years past, to Don Johanson’s hands fast, her fossil informs evolutionary history.

There once was an amoeba called ken. Who grew and then grew again. All at once he began to walk like a man Ken winked as he vowed the Higgs Boson would never be found and smiled as he teleported away away

Lucy stood upright, Then human learned to use tools. Now we tweet poems.

Homo habilis: Lived in the Olduvai Gorge, Handy with stone tools.

Our brains are shrinking Possibly just efficient Always evolving

There once was a chap named Potts Looking for Hominids in all the different plots He works with Dr. Pobiner And they search here and there but moreover, We like them as much as a ten year old likes tater tots.

A red-headed German named William lived to tell his people he's Liam he evolved bi-pedal loves to strum his fiddle but only the Irish can see him.

Darwin, said he, from apes But what of in-between states? Unique are we? One since bipedality? We seek to know; We hope to show And now impact our fate

Proud and bipedal Tools - my source of power Grateful for my thumbs

opposable thumb The walking upright stomach And a big brain too

small pearly teeth maiden waist a spark of fire

'Bout the time of Neanderthal Man, Our progress in science began-- We took off right from there And soon flew in the air-- Now the Right wants us back on the land.

there once was a girl, named suzanna, who had zee, not a banana

Oozing from a primordial swamp Slithering across dry land Walking in the shadow of giants

As Nelda grows older, she firmly maintains: "Erectus was first to leave Africa's plains!" No, she won't back down easy When you mention Dmanisi Oh, and don't get her started on Hobbit brains!

There's a family called Hominidae Whose tree grows in some crazy way Archaeologists fight Over details all night But we know we're all kin anyway